Angus Tura Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Hello, I've been very much enjoying a couple of figures for the Scandinavian GB and thought I could, sort-of, continue that here. Very long ago the recently defunct "Military Modelling" ran a series of articles about Flats. I think it would have been about 1976, and I would have been 13 or 14 years old. I mail ordered a set of flats from the shop "Under Two Flags", in London, on the back of those articles. "Under Two Flags" closed in the 2000s. It was run by an irascible Caledonian individual who didn't have much time for my 13 or 14 year old correspondence, I recall. I painted the flats with enamels and was well pleased with them as I remember. God knows what became of them. I saw the same flats on e-Bay a few years ago and bought them. Here they are: Front, and back. The e-Bay delivery included these too: I didn't have these "as a kid", but thought I would paint them together. All I've done so far is try out cellulose thinners as a paint stripper: This worked pretty well without attacking the tin. I hope these fit the GB and I'll keep you posted. Alan 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Under two Flags, that brings back memories of working in London and always finding he had shut early or no opened that day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 These are really nice. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Flats are cool, looking forward to seeing these underway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 What a great project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Tura Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 Hi. I thought I'd put up a tiny update. Whoever previously painted these flats wasn't too fussy about cleaning up the castings, and this has only become more obvious after stripping off the paint. So, I've been cleaning up the castings: On the left is un-cleaned-up and on the right is cleaned-up. I hope you can see the difference. If you can't, please don't let me know: I don't like people to see me crying. This is a bit of an English-language Flats-bible: In it Mike Taylor wrote: "figure cleaning is an exacting task...It...offers the painter time to dwell upon a single figure." I am here to tell you that he was not wrong! This is worse than a Zoukei-Moura piston block, previously my worst experience of clean-up. If I ever get to painting, I'll let you know. Alan 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helios16v Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Massive difference. At first glance I didn't notice a difference...then I saw the first bit of flash in the tree branches, then more, and more, and more. How the hell did that not slap me in the face sooner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 This is going to be good! I remember the article you mention, I think I have the magazine here. I'll take a look for it and I'll post here when I find it. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 This is the craziest build i love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 11 hours ago, Angus Tura said: On the left is un-cleaned-up and on the right is cleaned-up. I hope you can see the difference. The difference is easy to see Alan, the ducks have come to cr@p over your nice clean one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Tura Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 Hello again, finally. After evening upon evening of clean-up I got these to this stage: Huntin', and Fishin', To degrease them and, I hoped, get the last bits of old paint off, I tried this: This is my wife's ultrasound jewellery cleaner. I fairly nearly washed my wife's engagement ring down the sink when she gave it a quick blast after the Zinnfiguren. I loaded it up with considerable trepidation but it seems to work pretty well. It makes my wife's jewellery sparkle but, weirdly took the shine off the Zinnfiguren. It makes them look as if they've been anodised. Before: After: And here they are primed: The good book above and, I'm pretty sure, Military Modelling c.1976 both suggest Humbrol H34 to prime them but I thought it would be a bit stark for comparing shades and colours. So, I've primed with Tamiya Fine Grey. More tales from the riverbank for all you Paul Weller fans shortly, I hope. Alan 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted July 5, 2020 Share Posted July 5, 2020 They look really good - can't wait to see some colour on 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted July 5, 2020 Share Posted July 5, 2020 What things of beauty these are. I think they are in very safe hands with you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I was amazed by the difference in the unprepared to the fully prepared version. I have to do a bit of cleaning up on 28mm figures but nothing like that. The jewelry cleaner imparts a nice 'finish' though. Look forward to seeing them painted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Tura Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 (edited) Evening all. On 7/5/2020 at 6:47 PM, Jinxman said: They look really good - can't wait to see some colour on 'em. Well, here you go, but only a bit. I've undercoated the reeds and started painting in the eyes: but there is no way I can get these finished in a week and, in truth, this is a deliberate decision. The good book, above, and, I think, the articles in Military Modelling c.1976 would both say that these are not the best flats to start on because they have so much in the way of flesh tones to paint. I also badly don't want to mess these up because they are essentially irreplaceable, not to mention expensive. So, I'm putting them in KUTA and am going to practice a bit on these soviet WWII soldiers: These chaps have wide expanses of plain colour which they tell me is a lot more suitable for practicing painting. They are still in production and come in at about 3 euros a throw. I don't expect they'll be any easier of clean-up! Alan Edited August 9, 2020 by Angus Tura Duplication 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Totally understand your decision Alan. Well its great you want to do them properly and not rushed. Its been fun to follow this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Looking forward to seeing this continue in the KUTA GB - I have a few builds that might need a run out then as well. The Soviet flats look good as well - I see the political kommissar is at the rear urging the soldiers forward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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